Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren,
I would not have you ignorant.
1 Corinthians 12:1
The gifts that are available to us from our Heavenly Father are far different than any gifts that we may receive on earth. The main difference in the perspective of worldly gifts and gifts of the kingdom is that gifts given in the world are designed to bring pleasure to the receiver whereas gives of the kingdom are designed ultimately to bring glory to God.
Another important difference is that worldly gifts when given belong to
the receiver. They become the property
of the receiver to do with as they please; i.e., use it, re-gift it, ignore it,
discard it, etc. But the gifts of the
kingdom, though given to us, ultimately belong to the kingdom and are to be
used in accordance to kingdom principles.
God’s
various gifts are handed out everywhere; but they all originate in God’s
Spirit. God’s various ministries are carried out everywhere; but they all
originate in God’s Spirit. God’s various expressions of power are in action
everywhere; but God himself is behind it all. Each person is given something to
do that shows who God is: Everyone gets in on it, everyone benefits. All kinds
of things are handed out by the Spirit, and to all kinds of people!
Also, we think about gifts in the natural being rewarded on
a ‘like’ basis or on merit for one’s good work or deeds. In the kingdom of God, gifts are given to
benefit others not just the recipient. Spiritual
gifts are given as an enhancement to the body of Christ and while the recipient
benefits, the gift is intended for the benefit of others to encourage, build
up, strengthen, admonish and enlighten the body of Christ.
For to one
is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by
the same Spirit; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of
healing by the same Spirit; To another the working of miracles; to another
prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues;
to another the interpretation of tongues: But
all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man
severally as he will. (1 Corinthians 12:8)
Furthermore, the gifts given unto men
through the grace of Christ were given for a specific reason; not to as the
world desires to please the recipient, but to bring unity to the body of
Christ.
That there should be no
schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for
another. And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one
member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it. Now ye are the body of Christ,
and members in particular. (1
Corinthians 12:25-27)
Apostle Paul reproved the church at
Corinth for their inner sin that came out of them due to the gifts that had
been bestowed from above. When we recognize that the gifts are from God; given to use out of His good pleasure, we maintain a godly or humble state before
man. We have to use Jesus as our shining example. There is a reason He is
called the chief cornerstone. Before God sent his only begotten son to
be the propitiation for our sins, He called Him [Jesus] the chief cornerstone:
Therefore thus saith the
Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a
precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make
haste. Isaiah 28:16
This very scripture leads us to the
question of why Jesus is considered the chief cornerstone. This description was
not one that Jesus gave himself, nor did the disciples nor did any other man
give it to Him. God first spoke of the one to come who would break the yoke of
bondage imposed on us by the enemy.
And I will put enmity
between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise
thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. Genesis
3:15
We know that seed to be Jesus Christ!
For other foundation can no
man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 3:11
The word of God gives us reason why we
should build on the foundation of Jesus Christ.
And are built upon the
foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief
corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an
holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation
of God through the Spirit. Ephesians
2:20-22
Apostle Peter remembers the word of God
spoken of by Isaiah as he admonishes the body of Christ:
Wherefore also it is
contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect,
precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. 1 Peter 2:6
Jesus gives a parable of a home built on
a firm foundation –vs- one built on shaky ground:
Therefore whosoever heareth
these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which
built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the
winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon
a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not,
shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And
the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that
house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it. Matthew 7:24-27
When we know Jesus and what He stands
for, and His mission, and what He did for us, we realize that if ever there was
one we should desire to emulate, it is Jesus Christ. Jesus is our perfect
example. It is Jesus whom God gave for mankind to see what sonship was all
about. Even as Jesus was the son of God, God desires us all to be His sons.
Having predestinated us
unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good
pleasure of his will, Ephesians
1:5
By understanding and applying all that
Jesus taught, stood, fought, and prayed for, we realize what it means to live
by Kingdom principles. He gives us the keys throughout His teachings. His
‘sermon on the mount’ teaches volumes on kingdom living.
And he opened his mouth,
and taught them, saying, Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the
kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are they which
do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. Blessed are
the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart: for
they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the
children of God. Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake:
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you,
and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my
sake. Matthew 5:2-11
He continued on in Matthew through
chapter 7 at which time it states they were astonished at His teachings.
And it came to pass, when
Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine: For
he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. Matthew 7:28-29
Not only did He teach kingdom living, He
demonstrated it in the life that He lived; through His demonstration of the
power of God – healing, delivering, miracles,
And many other signs truly
did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: John 20:30
(Biblical Studies)
11/25/19
02/01/22
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